Languino Research

Dr. Languino is Professor of Cancer Biology at Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at Thomas Jefferson University.  Prior to this position, Dr Languino has served on the faculty of Yale University and the University of Massachusetts. Dr Languino I also Director of the Genetics, Genomics and Cancer Biology PhD program and has trained many pre- and post-doctoral fellows as well as undergraduate students.  

Dr. Languino’s studies have focused on integrin-mediated mechanisms that promote prostate cancer progression, integrating two distinct areas of research: (i) signaling by adhesion receptors and (ii) prostate cancer progression and metastasis.  

Dr. Languino’s laboratory investigates the role of cell adhesion receptors in phenotypic changes of prostate cancer cells. A strong research focus is being devoted to the study of the cross-talk between cell adhesion molecules, extracellular matrix proteins and growth factor receptors in vitro and in vivo systems and how this cross-talk affects intracellular signal transduction, cell survival, cell migration and cell division.

Dr. Languino’s laboratory research also focuses on the cellular and molecular characterization of the metastatic process of prostate cancer with particular emphasis on the signals directing distant localization of prostate cancer cells.  Dr. Languino has contributed to understanding prostate cancer cellular aberrations, delineating the molecular mechanisms underlying tumor progression and the integration of regulatory signals in cell-cell interactions.

In recent years, Dr. Languino has focused her attention on regulatory signals mediated by extracellular vesicles and exosomes, in aggressive prostate cancer.  Dr. Languino laboratory offers a novel dimension to transduction and integration of regulatory signals in cell-cell interactions mediated by extracellular vesicles.  This approach allows to delineate the molecular mechanisms underlying cancer progression and will offer new opportunities for therapeutic intervention.